IP Library Granted Patent US 9,834,305
Granted Patent B2
US 9,834,305 · App. 14/706,905 · Granted Dec 5, 2017

Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,834,305
App. No.
14/706,905
Granted
Dec 5, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flight control apparatus for fixed-wing aircraft includes a first port wing and first starboard wing, a first port swash plate coupled between a first port rotor and first port electric motor, the first port electric motor coupled to the first port wing, and a first starboard swash plate coupled between a first starboard rotor and first starboard electric motor, the first starboard electric motor coupled to the first starboard wing.

Claims (16)

1. A flight control apparatus for a fixed-wing aircraft, comprising:

a first port wing and a first starboard wing;

a first port swash plate coupled between a first port rotor and a first port electric motor, the first port electric motor coupled to the first port wing;

a first starboard swash plate coupled between a first starboard rotor and a first starboard electric motor, the first starboard electric motor coupled to the first starboard wing;

a second port wing and second starboard wing;

a second port swash plate coupled between a second port rotor and second port electric motor, the second port electric motor coupled to the second port wing;

a second starboard swash plate coupled between a second starboard rotor and second starboard electric motor, the second starboard electric motor coupled to the second starboard wing; and

a horizontal stabilizer coupled to a fuselage and an elevator rotatably coupled to the horizontal stabilizer, the fuselage coupled between the first port wing and second starboard wing;

wherein first starboard and first port rotor pitch, yaw and roll moments are accomplished without the benefit of control surfaces on a wing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a port aileron rotatably disposed on a trailing edge of the first port wing; and

a starboard aileron rotatably disposed on a trailing edge of the first starboard wing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

first and second landing gear attached to the first port wing and first starboard wing, respectively.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:

a third landing gear attached to the horizontal stabilizer.

Assignments (4)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 19, 2021
From: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 055343/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2017
From: TOKUMARU, PHILLIP T; HIBBS, BART DEAN; PARKS, WILLIAM MARTIN; GANZER, DAVID WAYNE; KING, JOSEPH FREDERICK
To: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 043321/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2017
From: TAYLOR, DANA JAMES
To: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 043321/0282 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2016
From: FISHER, CHRISTOPHER EUGENE; MUKHERJEE, JASON SIDHARTHADEV; BELIK, PAVEL; LOTT, WILLIAM ARDEN; HIBBS, BART DEAN
To: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 038481/0775 →